How to Remove a Password on Excel

If you would like to protect the data that is contained in an Excel workbook, you can do so by setting a password for the workbook. When a password is set, Excel automatically prompts anyone who attempts to open the workbook for the workbook password. If the password cannot be provided, the workbook does not open. If you have set a password for an Excel workbook, you can remove the password at any time and the workbook can once again be viewed by anyone who tries to open it.

Office 2003

Step

Launch Excel from the desktop icon or the "Start" menu of your computer. Go to the "File" menu and select "Open." Navigate to the folder that contains the password-protected Excel workbook and double-click the file to open it.

Step

Enter the password that you created for the Excel workbook, when prompted. Press "Enter" to open the workbook.

Step

Go to the "File" menu in Excel and choose "Save As." Open the "Tools" menu in the "Save As" dialog box and select "General Options."

Step

Highlight the asterisks in the "Password to open" box. Press the "Delete" key and click "OK" to close the password box.

Step

Click the "Save" button. Confirm that you want to replace the existing Excel workbook, and the file is saved with the password removed.

Office 2007

Step

Launch Excel. Click on the "Open" folder icon, navigate to the file on the hard drive and double-click the file name to open it.

Step

Type in the password that you set for the workbook and press "Enter." The workbook should open on the screen.

Step

Click on the button with the Microsoft Office icon in the upper-left corner. Hover over "Prepare" and choose "Encrypt document" from the options that appear.

Step

Highlight the asterisks in the "Encrypt document" box that pops up. Press "Delete" and click "OK."

Step

Press the "Save" button at the top of the screen to save the file. Confirm that you want to write over the original file, if prompted, and the file is saved without the password.